Mt. 13:11 ...it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
This was Jesus' response when questioned by His disciples as to why He spoke to the multitude in parables. Parables were explanations of spiritual truths (mysteries) using stories and, at first, I thought it unusual and even unfair that some people were given (kingdom) insight/understanding into what He said while others were not. Then I realized that it was not about His willingness to give but rather about their willingness or readiness to receive. Those among the crowd who didn't understand the deeper spiritual truths in Jesus' parables were either not yet ready or, sadly, not willing to do so. How often we read in Scripture of those with hardened hearts. They have eyes but don't see and ears but don't hear, nor do they understand (v.13). They made a willful choice to reject what God was prepared to give them. So all they heard was a story. Only those whose hearts were ready and receptive were given the gift of understanding and insight into God's kingdom.
Light is available to all. But whether or not we choose to acknowledge it is up to us. It gives great vision to some but blinds others. We can close our eyes to it and turn away from it, or we can embrace it and use it to help us see. The light is always there but the choice of what to do with it is always ours.
There are two types of knowledge. The first comes from understanding with our head. So, it is possible to have great knowledge of earthly things and yet be completely ignorant of spiritual things. We don't have to look far to find some very smart people who know so very little (or nothing at all) about the kingdom of God. And for many, this kingdom ignorance is a willful choice they've made. The second type of knowledge comes from understanding with a ready and receptive heart. And it is this condition in our heart that allows us to receive the kingdom insight which God is so freely willing to give. Heart readiness produces heavenly revelation.
"Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely." Mt. 13:12 MSG
Let us rejoice and thank God today for a very special gift. It has been given to us to know mysteries. He has blessed us with understanding and insight into His kingdom through a ready and receptive heart.
Sock Monkey Snippet: We have been given kingdom insight.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Through Our Hands
Acts 5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.
After Jesus ascended into heaven to be with the Father, the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost and empowered the apostles (Acts 1:8). They were given power for a purpose. And what exactly was that purpose? The same verse in Acts (1:8) gives the answer. To be His witnesses.
It is interesting to note that the Greek word used for witnesses is "martus" from which we get our English word martyr. We tend to think of a martyr as a person who suffers greatly, maybe even to death, for a particular reason or cause. And certainly many early followers of Christ did that. But the translation of a witness as simply a record or evidence of Christ suggests that lives committed to Him can bear witness not only in times of suffering and persecution but also in times of peace and prosperity as well. In other words, an entire life, regardless of circumstance, can and should bear witness or present evidence of Him.
The Holy Spirit power was given to the apostles so that they could complete the work for which they were called. And this power was indeed demonstrated. Through their hands, signs and wonders were done.
Our lives each have a unique God-ordained plan and purpose, as did the lives of the apostles, and we have been given the same Holy Spirit power in order to complete the work for which we have been called. Regardless of our life circumstances, we too are to be His witnesses. Just like the apostles were. Can others see evidence of Christ in our lives and by our witness? We have been given power for a purpose. So what signs and wonders are being done through our hands?
Sock Monkey Snippet: Through our hands, signs and wonders are done.
After Jesus ascended into heaven to be with the Father, the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost and empowered the apostles (Acts 1:8). They were given power for a purpose. And what exactly was that purpose? The same verse in Acts (1:8) gives the answer. To be His witnesses.
It is interesting to note that the Greek word used for witnesses is "martus" from which we get our English word martyr. We tend to think of a martyr as a person who suffers greatly, maybe even to death, for a particular reason or cause. And certainly many early followers of Christ did that. But the translation of a witness as simply a record or evidence of Christ suggests that lives committed to Him can bear witness not only in times of suffering and persecution but also in times of peace and prosperity as well. In other words, an entire life, regardless of circumstance, can and should bear witness or present evidence of Him.
The Holy Spirit power was given to the apostles so that they could complete the work for which they were called. And this power was indeed demonstrated. Through their hands, signs and wonders were done.Our lives each have a unique God-ordained plan and purpose, as did the lives of the apostles, and we have been given the same Holy Spirit power in order to complete the work for which we have been called. Regardless of our life circumstances, we too are to be His witnesses. Just like the apostles were. Can others see evidence of Christ in our lives and by our witness? We have been given power for a purpose. So what signs and wonders are being done through our hands?
Sock Monkey Snippet: Through our hands, signs and wonders are done.
Monday, July 23, 2012
No Denying It
2 Tim. 2:13 If we are faithless. He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
Peter said to Jesus, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" (Matt. 26:35). No greater promise can be made than one for which an individual is willing to sacrifice his life to keep. Peter, as a man, spoke these words intending to be true to them, to himself and to Jesus even if it cost him his life. And yet despite so great a promise and assurance of his faithfulness, Jesus knew that Peter was just a man. And like any other, when faced with adversity, trouble or affliction, was capable of being unfaithful and denying the very words he spoke and promises he made. And as we all know, he did. Not only once, but three times!
Faithfulness is a quality we appreciate. A quality that God appreciates. And yet when faced with hardships, we too, like Peter, can be miserably unfaithful. To ourselves, to our friends and family, and most importantly to God. Yes, we are capable of hurting even those closest to us because we are all men.
What then are we to make of the words of Jesus and the promises He made? Numbers 23:19 tells us that God is not a man. Therefore, He cannot lie or break His word nor can He change His mind concerning what He has spoken or promised! We can know with complete certainty that what He said, He will do! Because He is God and by His very nature He cannot deny Himself. He cannot behave in a manner contrary to who He is. He is faithful no matter what the circumstances may or will ever be. If He said it, He'll do it. If He promised it, He'll fulfill it. In Whom then shall we trust?
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. And there is no denying it!
Sock Monkey Snippet: Because He is God, He is always faithful.
Peter said to Jesus, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" (Matt. 26:35). No greater promise can be made than one for which an individual is willing to sacrifice his life to keep. Peter, as a man, spoke these words intending to be true to them, to himself and to Jesus even if it cost him his life. And yet despite so great a promise and assurance of his faithfulness, Jesus knew that Peter was just a man. And like any other, when faced with adversity, trouble or affliction, was capable of being unfaithful and denying the very words he spoke and promises he made. And as we all know, he did. Not only once, but three times!
Faithfulness is a quality we appreciate. A quality that God appreciates. And yet when faced with hardships, we too, like Peter, can be miserably unfaithful. To ourselves, to our friends and family, and most importantly to God. Yes, we are capable of hurting even those closest to us because we are all men.
What then are we to make of the words of Jesus and the promises He made? Numbers 23:19 tells us that God is not a man. Therefore, He cannot lie or break His word nor can He change His mind concerning what He has spoken or promised! We can know with complete certainty that what He said, He will do! Because He is God and by His very nature He cannot deny Himself. He cannot behave in a manner contrary to who He is. He is faithful no matter what the circumstances may or will ever be. If He said it, He'll do it. If He promised it, He'll fulfill it. In Whom then shall we trust?
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. And there is no denying it!
Sock Monkey Snippet: Because He is God, He is always faithful.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The Product of Our Association
1 Jn. 3:2 ...when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
People influence our lives. And we influence their lives, too. Through relationships or associations, transformation occurs in us. Sometimes it is immediately noticeable but usually change is a gradual process. We take on, let's say inherit, their characteristics. Association brings assimilation. Simply put, we rub off on each other.
Negative, angry, bitter people can actually cause us to act and feel the same way they do. Conversely, positive, happy and contented people can produce these same attitudes in us. People either build us up or bring us down. We need to always be mindful of the effect others are having on our lives and the effect we are having on theirs.
This particular verse speaks of our association or relationship with Jesus. It is relevant in our everyday earthly lives and will certainly one day be relevant in our eternal heavenly ones. Take a minute and think about how absolutely necessary and critically important this relationship really is.
When we seek His presence in this life, we will find Him (Jer. 29:13). He reveals Himself to us. Through assimilation then, we take on or inherit His characteristics and become (more) loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. Manifesting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Partaking in the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). Jesus rubs off on us! Abiding in His presence causes us to become more Christ-like and we are wonderfully transformed. His presence in our lives, without fail, produces a change in us.
One day, when Christ returns, that is to say He is finally or ultimately revealed, our most important of all associations, with Him, will produce the most glorious result. We will experience the fullness of what we were created to be and receive our incorruptible inheritance (1 Pet. 1:4). We will truly and totally be like Him because we will see Him and be with Him. Forever becoming the product of our association!
Sock Monkey Snippet: Association brings assimilation.
People influence our lives. And we influence their lives, too. Through relationships or associations, transformation occurs in us. Sometimes it is immediately noticeable but usually change is a gradual process. We take on, let's say inherit, their characteristics. Association brings assimilation. Simply put, we rub off on each other.
Negative, angry, bitter people can actually cause us to act and feel the same way they do. Conversely, positive, happy and contented people can produce these same attitudes in us. People either build us up or bring us down. We need to always be mindful of the effect others are having on our lives and the effect we are having on theirs.
This particular verse speaks of our association or relationship with Jesus. It is relevant in our everyday earthly lives and will certainly one day be relevant in our eternal heavenly ones. Take a minute and think about how absolutely necessary and critically important this relationship really is.
When we seek His presence in this life, we will find Him (Jer. 29:13). He reveals Himself to us. Through assimilation then, we take on or inherit His characteristics and become (more) loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. Manifesting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Partaking in the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). Jesus rubs off on us! Abiding in His presence causes us to become more Christ-like and we are wonderfully transformed. His presence in our lives, without fail, produces a change in us.
One day, when Christ returns, that is to say He is finally or ultimately revealed, our most important of all associations, with Him, will produce the most glorious result. We will experience the fullness of what we were created to be and receive our incorruptible inheritance (1 Pet. 1:4). We will truly and totally be like Him because we will see Him and be with Him. Forever becoming the product of our association!
Sock Monkey Snippet: Association brings assimilation.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Walking Worthy
Eph. 4:1-2 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness, with longsuffering bearing with one another in love...
We are called Christians. And with that comes a certain expectation by others and by ourselves of how we should act or live our lives. Certainly, even though we are Christians, we are far from perfect and should never claim to be. But I think, with God's help, we have a responsibility to do our best to conduct ourselves in a manner that would be pleasing to Him and glorify Him. This is what the apostle Paul calls "walking worthy". He declares that our label as Christians should not only be fitting but evident and our lives a daily demonstration of our calling.
Paul offers three characteristics of "worthy walking" believers. First, we need to be humble (lowly) and not prideful. Always esteeming others better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3). Second, we must be meek and not provokable. We must possess a mild and forgiving spirit (2 Cor. 10:1, Gal. 5:23). And finally, we must be longsuffering and not perturbed. Patience is easily lost and often hard to find. All too quickly and easily we find faults and shortcomings in others while forgetting that we too have them. We must bear with one another in "agape" or unconditional love despite our flaws.
These three characteristics aren't idealistic and unachievable. They do not require superhuman ability or suffering, just an everyday conscious effort to employ. They are not "loud" virtues and as such do not draw attention to themselves. The Barnes Bible Commentary, on these verses, says it best.
"It is not by great deeds only, not by great sufferings only; it is by the daily and quiet virtues of life (the walking worthy as I see it) that good is to be done; and in this all may be useful."
Sock Monkey Snippet: Walk worthy of your calling.
We are called Christians. And with that comes a certain expectation by others and by ourselves of how we should act or live our lives. Certainly, even though we are Christians, we are far from perfect and should never claim to be. But I think, with God's help, we have a responsibility to do our best to conduct ourselves in a manner that would be pleasing to Him and glorify Him. This is what the apostle Paul calls "walking worthy". He declares that our label as Christians should not only be fitting but evident and our lives a daily demonstration of our calling.
Paul offers three characteristics of "worthy walking" believers. First, we need to be humble (lowly) and not prideful. Always esteeming others better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3). Second, we must be meek and not provokable. We must possess a mild and forgiving spirit (2 Cor. 10:1, Gal. 5:23). And finally, we must be longsuffering and not perturbed. Patience is easily lost and often hard to find. All too quickly and easily we find faults and shortcomings in others while forgetting that we too have them. We must bear with one another in "agape" or unconditional love despite our flaws.
These three characteristics aren't idealistic and unachievable. They do not require superhuman ability or suffering, just an everyday conscious effort to employ. They are not "loud" virtues and as such do not draw attention to themselves. The Barnes Bible Commentary, on these verses, says it best.
"It is not by great deeds only, not by great sufferings only; it is by the daily and quiet virtues of life (the walking worthy as I see it) that good is to be done; and in this all may be useful."
Sock Monkey Snippet: Walk worthy of your calling.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Endurance
Heb. 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...
Endurance is necessary in order to be successful at racing. It is the ability to bear pain and hardships, to continue or to last despite adverse conditions, fatigue or stress.
In high school, I remember having to run a mile in order to get a passing grade in gym class. Three times around our stadium track. Piece of cake...or so I thought. I began the first lap with lots of energy, speed and with the best of intentions. The slower second lap, however, felt as though I had somehow been invisibly weighted down. The third, and final lap, even more so. My endurance was being tested. Fortunately, I was able to persevere and to finish.
Every race is begun with the best of intentions. With the goal of finishing first and taking the prize. With the expectation of performing at our best. But inevitably, somewhere during the course of the race, we encounter obstacles, expected or unexpected. Visible or invisible. Opportunities to become weary and discouraged. Those twists, turns or issues which confront us that we must push through in order to finish. And it is by enduring that we will succeed.
As Christians, we have a course set before us. An endurance race to run. One, like any other race, with it's share of hardships, hindrances and hurts. Opportunities to sin, to become weary and discouraged and even to quit. We can be slowed down or even stopped completely by them. But be encouraged by Paul (and me) and know that there are others who have gone before us and have endured. More than perhaps we ever will. And by One, in particular, who has endured more than us all. He endured the punishment for our sin and an agonizing death on a cross (Heb. 12:2). And finished the race. How can it be done? Endurance.
Sock Monkey Snippet: By enduring, we will succeed.
Endurance is necessary in order to be successful at racing. It is the ability to bear pain and hardships, to continue or to last despite adverse conditions, fatigue or stress.In high school, I remember having to run a mile in order to get a passing grade in gym class. Three times around our stadium track. Piece of cake...or so I thought. I began the first lap with lots of energy, speed and with the best of intentions. The slower second lap, however, felt as though I had somehow been invisibly weighted down. The third, and final lap, even more so. My endurance was being tested. Fortunately, I was able to persevere and to finish.
Every race is begun with the best of intentions. With the goal of finishing first and taking the prize. With the expectation of performing at our best. But inevitably, somewhere during the course of the race, we encounter obstacles, expected or unexpected. Visible or invisible. Opportunities to become weary and discouraged. Those twists, turns or issues which confront us that we must push through in order to finish. And it is by enduring that we will succeed.
As Christians, we have a course set before us. An endurance race to run. One, like any other race, with it's share of hardships, hindrances and hurts. Opportunities to sin, to become weary and discouraged and even to quit. We can be slowed down or even stopped completely by them. But be encouraged by Paul (and me) and know that there are others who have gone before us and have endured. More than perhaps we ever will. And by One, in particular, who has endured more than us all. He endured the punishment for our sin and an agonizing death on a cross (Heb. 12:2). And finished the race. How can it be done? Endurance.
Sock Monkey Snippet: By enduring, we will succeed.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Only A Fool
Ps. 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.
There once was a rich and prosperous man named Nabal (1 Sam. 25). He had lots of sheep and goats spread out over the countryside of Carmel. David and his men, being in the same area, treated Nabal's shepherds well, never stole from them or harmed them. In fact, they protected them such that Scripture says the shepherds felt as safe out in the open as if they were living in a walled city. And Nabal knew it. Yet when David asked Nabal to share food with them, Nabal rudely and insultingly refused. He acted against his own knowledge, against what he knew in his heart to be right and true. Believing there would be no consequence or judgment from anyone for his behavior. That's what a fool does. The name Nabal actually means "fool". Understand the difference between an ignorant man and a fool. An ignorant man lacks knowledge but a fool ignores it.
Our verse from Psalms describes a sinner as a fool, one whose hardened heart causes him to act against his knowledge and understanding of God and His Word. The wickedness of sin causes him to act contrary to what he knows to be right and true. The sinner chooses, not ignorantly but foolishly, to believe that God will not judge him for his sin. He doesn't deny God's existence but rather chooses to ignore His dominion. He allows his blatant, willful sinning to be that which has dominion (Ps. 19:13) over him.
We all will someday be judged (Heb. 9:27) according to our knowledge and understanding of God and His Word. In fact, Scripture tells us that His Word will reveal the thoughts and intents of our hearts (Heb. 4:12). Our actions, that is to say our lives, should acknowledge not only His existence but His dominion over us. Who will choose to ignore such knowledge? Only a fool.
Sock Monkey Snippet: Acknowledge His existence and His dominion.
There once was a rich and prosperous man named Nabal (1 Sam. 25). He had lots of sheep and goats spread out over the countryside of Carmel. David and his men, being in the same area, treated Nabal's shepherds well, never stole from them or harmed them. In fact, they protected them such that Scripture says the shepherds felt as safe out in the open as if they were living in a walled city. And Nabal knew it. Yet when David asked Nabal to share food with them, Nabal rudely and insultingly refused. He acted against his own knowledge, against what he knew in his heart to be right and true. Believing there would be no consequence or judgment from anyone for his behavior. That's what a fool does. The name Nabal actually means "fool". Understand the difference between an ignorant man and a fool. An ignorant man lacks knowledge but a fool ignores it.
Our verse from Psalms describes a sinner as a fool, one whose hardened heart causes him to act against his knowledge and understanding of God and His Word. The wickedness of sin causes him to act contrary to what he knows to be right and true. The sinner chooses, not ignorantly but foolishly, to believe that God will not judge him for his sin. He doesn't deny God's existence but rather chooses to ignore His dominion. He allows his blatant, willful sinning to be that which has dominion (Ps. 19:13) over him.
We all will someday be judged (Heb. 9:27) according to our knowledge and understanding of God and His Word. In fact, Scripture tells us that His Word will reveal the thoughts and intents of our hearts (Heb. 4:12). Our actions, that is to say our lives, should acknowledge not only His existence but His dominion over us. Who will choose to ignore such knowledge? Only a fool.
Sock Monkey Snippet: Acknowledge His existence and His dominion.
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